Holding clip for partition plates



Nov. 5, 1940. A. WOUTERS 2,220,469

HOLDING CLIP FOR PARTITION PLATES Filed Aug. 20, 1938 Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to clips, especially clips for holding partition strips or plates forming a divided display counter top.

A primary object of the invention is to provide devices of the character described for holding in proper place and adjustment strips or plates of glass or any other suitable partition material in an edgewise position upon a counter whereby compartments of varying sizes may be formed in which various merchandise may be displayed.

A further object of the, invention is to construct a clip of the character described which will be adaptable for use with strips of different height and of somewhat varying thickness.

A further object of the invention is to construct a clip of the character described which will be usable in connection with partitions in line or with partitions which are notin line and which requires no fastening to the counter itself upon which the partitions are placed and which will preferably contain a spring element which will prevent rattling of the plates and will furthermore be so constructed that if the plates have rough sharp vertical edges, the top portion thereof will be covered so that customers will be protected from the danger of cutting their hands while examining articles within the partitions.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail and the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing and the several views thereon, in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric perspective simulating view of the top of a display counter partitioned off by strips held in place by the device of my invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the plane indicated by the line I[-II of Fig. 1 viewed in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the line; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the plane indicated by the line III--III of Fig. 2 viewed in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the line; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View on the plane indicated by the line IV--IV of Fig. 2, viewed in the directions of the arrows at the ends of the line; Fig. 5 is a View corresponding to Fig. 2 but illustrating a clip of applicants invention so constructed as to maintain partitions on each side thereof in line; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View illustrating the widening of a slot at the bend. In Fig. 1 numeral l designates a counter, the

top of which is completely covered by a suitable background material 2, such as black velvet.

3, 4, 5 and 6 designate partition strips set on tween 4 and 5 and between 5 and 6 must be regulated in accordance with the character of the merchandise that is to be displayed. The distance between 3 and 4 may be the same or different from that between 4 and 5 and 5 and 6. In short, strips 4, 5 and 6 may be placed at any distance from 3 and at any distance from each other. This requires a clip which will hold the strips as 4, 5 and 6, in their proper position relative to strip 1. Applicants clip is shown at l0 and is used for the purpose of holding strips 4, 5 and 6 abutting strip 1.-

In addition to'the strips 4, 5 and 6, there are cross strips such as H, l2, l3 and M in each of the rectangular spaces formed by thestrips 3, 4, 5 and 6.- These cross strips may be at any desired distance from strip 1 and may be in line as shown or not in line as shown at I5 and I6. 7 In order to hold the cross strips II to I6 inclusive in place applicant also uses the clip Ill at the junction of H and 3, and 4 and I5," and 5 and I5, and 5 and I6, and 6 and IE, but at the junctions of II and 4, and 5 and I2, and 6 and 5 l4, a double clip I! is used.

The clip I0 is illustrated in Fig. 2 and comprises in general two main parts, a clasp member l8 and a corner member IS.

The clip I 1 is shown in Fig. '5 and comprises three main parts, the clasp member I8. and two corner members 19.

The clasp member is is of general U shape so that it may be passed over a plate such as 3. It is made of springy or elastic material and the legs of the U are positioned such a distance apart that they are sprung slightly when it is passed over a plate such as 3 so that the clasp [8 adheres by spring frictional engagement touthe plate 3.

Each leg of the member l8 has a bow therein,

as best shown in Fig. 3 thereby forming an arch the le s of the U which extends such a distance along the leg as will allow the corner piece l9 to be slid its full length on to the leg of the U. In the drawing, Fig. 2, the slot extends a substantial distance to the point 2|. This slot is slightly wider at the top on the bend at 20 to permit sliding the corner piece down between the sides of the slot.

In the clasp member [8' as shown in Fig. 5 there are slots 2Q in each of the legs of the clasp.

The corner piece [9 is made preferably of sheet metal and preferably of sheet metal which has some slight springy or elastic characteristic. It has two parallel sides 22 and 23 best shown in Fig. 3; a top piece 24, best shown in Fig. 2, and an end piece 26 all forming a corner piece-or pocket which fits the corner of a partition plate and which may be slid over a partition plate as l l., as shown in Fig. 2.

The corner piece [9 is also formed with a pair of grooves 25 and 26, best shown in Fig. 3 which grooves fit within the slit 2-0 of the clasp member l8 so that when the corner piece I9 is slipped down into the slot of clasp 18 it can only be removed by an upward movement as viewed in Fig. 3.

The sides 22 and 23 are formed with bent in portions 2! and 28, cut through on three sides from the parallel side. These bent in'portions, as the material is somewhat springy, resiliently bear against the partition plate, such as H and hold it firmly enough in place so that it does not rattle, vibrate, or make a noise.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that applicant has provided a clip which is especially adapted to facilitate the holding in place of the partition plates of a divided merchandise display counter top which is of such a form that it may be used with partition strips or plates of any height and that the partitions may be in line or out of line and small differences in thickness of the partitions is of nomoment. Furthermore no fastenings are necessary to secure the clips to the counter proper and no holes or notches have to be formed in the partitions before applying the clips thereto. Furthermore, there are only two parts to the clip, a clamp and a corner piece and the corner piece is the same for all situations, that is, whether the partitions are in line or out of line the only difference in the clamp is that it may be slotted in one or both legs so that if one prefers to supply themselves entirely with clamps slotted in both legs they are prepared for all situations because although it is made especially for the case of the partitions in line it may be used with equal eificiency with only one corner piece when the partitions are not in line.

It should be observed that the corner piece l9 covers the corner 29 of a partition such as H. As these partitions, such as H, are commonly made from glass and as they are commonly out to length in the usual and conventional manner as, by a-glass cutter, there is usually a very rough edge 30. This rough edge 30 is not at all dangerous except at the corner 29 where, if it is unprotected, it is likely to be contacted by the hand of a customer handling the merchandise displayed. At the present time, it is necessary to carefully grind the edge (it so as to remove all sharp edges.

With applicants device the dangerous portion of the edge 38 is entirely covered and protected by the corner piece is and troublesome and expensive grinding of the edge 38 is avoided.

Although I have particularly described one particular physical embodiment of my invention and,

explained the operation, construction and principle thereof, nevertheless, I desire to have it understood that the form selected is merely illustrative, but does not exhaust the possible physical embodiments of the idea of means underlying my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a substantially U -shaped member formed of material having substantial elasticity and having each leg formed convex outwardly in a plane substantially at a right angle tothe length of the member and each leg formed with a longitudinal slot for a substantial portion of its length.

2. As an article of manuiacture, a corner piece having two parallel sides, a top portion and an end portion defining a pocket adapted for the reception of a strip and further provided with a pair of grooves parallel with the end portion adapted to be received in a slot of a U clip.

3. As an article of manufacture, a corner piece formed with two sides, a top portion and an end portion forming a pocket adapted for the reception of a partition strip, and further formed with a pair of grooves parallel with the end portion adapted to be received in a slot of a U clip, and further formed with means for preventing vibration of a partition strip received within the pocket.

4. A clip comprising a U-shaped member adapted to straddle a partition strip, said member formed with a slot in each of the legs of the U-shaped member and two corner pieces each formed with means adapted to interfit with the edges of a slot for attaching one corner piece to eachleg of the U-shaped member.

5. A clip comprising a U-shaped member adapted to straddle a partition strip, said member formed with a slot in each of the legs of the U-shaped member, and two corner pieces each formed with a pair of grooves adapted to interfit with the edges of a slot, each of said corner pieces formed with substantially parallel sides and a top piece forming a pocket adapted to receive and hold the corner of a partition strip, said corner piece further formed with means for preventing vibration of a partition strip received within the pocket.

6. A clip comprising a U-shaped member adapted to straddle a partition strip, said member formed with a slot in each of .the legs of the U-shaped member, and two corner pieces each formed with a pair of grooves adapted to interfit with the edges of a slot, each of said corner pieces formed with substantially parallel 'sides and a top piece forming a pocket adapted to receive and hold the corner of a partition strip, said corner pieces each formed with a portion of at least one parallel side bent in forming a finger pressing a contained partition strip tightly toward the other parallel side.

7. A clip comprising a U-shaped member adapted to straddle a partition strip, said member formed with a slot in each of the legs of the U-shaped member, and two corner pieces each formed with a pair of grooves adapted to interfit with the edges of a slot, each of said corner pieces formed with substantially parallel sides and a top piece forming a pocket adapted to receive and hold the corner of a partition strip, said corner pieces each further formed with a portion of each parallel side cut away on three sides and bent inwardly forming fingers pressing a contained partition strip tightly toward the other finger.

8. As an article of manufacture, a corner piece formed with two parallel sides, a top portion and an end portion forming a pocket adapted for the reception of a partition strip, further formed with a pair of grooves parallel with the end portion adapted to be received in a slot of a U clip, and further formed with a portion of each parallel side severed along three sides and bent inwardly.

9. A clip comprising a U-shaped member adapted to straddle a partition strip, said member formed with a slot in one of the legs of the U-shaped member, and a corner piece formed with a pair of grooves adapted to interfit with the edges of said slot, said corner piece formed with substantially parallel sides and a top piece forming a pocket adapted to receive and hold the corner of a partition strip, said corner piece further formed with a portion of one parallel side bent in forminga finger pressing a contained partition strip tightly toward the other parallel side.

10. As an article of manufacture, a substantially ueshaped member formed of material having' substantial elasticity and having each leg,

convex outwardly in a plane substantially at a right angle to the length of the member and one leg formed with a longitudinal slot for a substantial portion of its length.

11. As an article of manufacture, a substan tially U-shaped member formed of material having substantial elasticity, one leg formed with longitudinal slot for a substantial portion of its length, said slot being enlarged sidewise at the bend of the U-shaped member to permit the insertion therein of a grooved corner piece whereby when the corner piece is pushed down it will be held from displacement except upwardly.

ALEXANDER WOUTERS. 

